‘I am not a terrorist’: Wisconsin workers come out in force after Gov. Walker’s ISIS jibe

Hundreds of union members rally outside the State Capitol building in Madison, Wisconsin February 24, 2015. (Reuters/Brendan O'Brien) / Reuters

Five-thousand Wisconsin trade unionists braved freezing weather to protest an anti-union law that Republicans are pushing through the state legislature – and to take potshots at Gov. Scott Walker’s comments in which he compared them to terrorists.

Unionists surrounded the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison, in
the week's third and biggest demonstration against the
right-to-work legislation, which would make it illegal for
private company trade unions to demand collective dues from
employees who are not trade union members themselves.

The demonstrators held placards reading “Kill the union death
bill” and “I am not a terrorist.”

After an eight-hour debate on Wednesday – during which observers
were ejected by police – the bill was passed by a narrow margin
of 17 to 15. It will now go to the upper chamber next week. The
Assembly, which enjoys a wide Republican majority, is expected to
rubber-stamp it. It will be enacted as soon as it is signed by
Governor and 2016 presidential hopeful Scott Walker.

Wisconsin would then become the 25th US state to a adopt
right-to-work law.

Walker – a renowned anti-union politician – made a gaffe earlier
this week. He tried to bolster his future credentials as a US
president who can tackle international terrorism, by comparing
fighting the Islamic State (ISIS) with his handling of the
massive Act 10 protests in Wisconsin four years ago.

“I want a commander in chief who will do everything in their
power to ensure that the threat from radical Islamic terrorists
does not wash up on American soil. If I can take on 100,000
protesters, I can do the same across the world,” Walker told
CPAC, a group of influential Republican donors, on Thursday in
Maryland.

After being roundly criticized for the comments, Walker tried to
backtrack, and denied that he was making a direct comparison.

Act 10 – which reduced state workers’ bargaining power and led to
union membership falling by one-fifth to around 11.7 percent –
has sapped the morale of union workers. Meanwhile, the new
legislation would likely result in further union membership
numbers, a fall in fees – from both members and non-members – and
likely less bargaining power for workers.

The governor insists that any losses will be offset by additional
revenues from companies drawn to Wisconsin by the
business-friendly legislation.